central coherence: a term used to describe the ability to look at the bigger picture as opposed to being stuck with the detail. People with eating disorders tend to have an eye for detail at the expense of being able to consider the bigger picture.

choice/autonomy: emphasizing the importance that the individual chooses to get well for themselves - recognizing that we only have control over our own behaviour

collaborative caring: developing a collaborative approach in the fight against the illness (sufferer/carers/professionals. Eating disorders flourish on conflict. Use emotional intelligence and problem solving strategies to address any challenges in utilizing different responses to the illness

commitment talk: encourage and look out for signs of 'commitment to behaviour change' talk. Use of motivational interviewing to elicit concerns about eating behaviours and to elicit change talk

Elicit views (other perspective/change talk): elicit the views and opinion of the individual, their views on the eating disorder and on change

Empathy: skillful reflective listening that clarifies and amplifies the person's own experience and meaning

Environmental restructuring: discuss the environment in which one can promote behaviour change and recovery engaging sufferer in shaping their environment to one that supports change without carers accommodating to the illness

Family-based treatment (FBT): family therapy for the treatment of anorexia nervosa devised by Christopher Dare and colleagues at the Maudsley Hospital in London in 1985.

Flexibility: role model and encourage flexibility not only in food and meal planning but in other areas of life

Functional analysis: examine and reflect on unhelpful routines and interactions. Use functional analysis (ABC) model with sufferer to discuss unhelpful routines, explore change and consequences. Help patient identify triggers for problematic behaviours and make strategies to cope with those triggers in advance

Goal setting facilitation: facilitate the setting of specific and achievable goals - help the individual develop their own appropriate goals for behaviour change towards recovery. Once goals have been set help sufferer review those goals. Remember importance of setting SMART goals.

Information sharing: (biological) share biological information of EDs and implication for brain functioning; (ED support and sharing) Encourage self efficacy in accessing support; facilitate use of local services and information on recovery; (patient needs in regards to support required) Encourage open discussion with patient on experiences in therapy as well as perspective on the support the carer gives.

Pros & Cons of change: explore with patient the negative side effects of change as well as positives, e.g. what are the pros and cons that the sufferer perceives of any change behaviour, provide empathetic support - discuss reasons for and against change, especially working towards recovery (e.g. bigger picture)

Randomized controlled trial: (RCT) is a specific type of scientific experiment, and the preferred design for a clinical trial. RCT are often used to test the efficacy of various types of intervention within a patient population. The key distinguishing feature of the usual RCT is that study subjects, after assessment of eligibility and recruitment, but before the intervention to be studied begins, are randomly allocated to receive one or other of the alternative treatments under study.

readiness ruler: assess current readiness and ability to make change with regards to ability and confidence to change on a score of 1-10: the readiness ruler can be used with both carer and sufferer

reassurance trap: occurs when the sufferer frequently asks for reassurance around food, weight and shape. Useful to remember the analogy with medication in that reassurance may initially have a short-term positive effect. However, in the longer term, it will have a reduced effect and the sufferer may need more and more reassurance.

reflective listening: use reflective listening to model and encourage more adaptive communication techniques

relapse prevention: recognize possibility of reverting to old behavioural patterns. Explore triggers of relapse, encourage transparency and help seeking behaviour: 1) review what has been learned 2) encourage and maintain new perspectives 3) maintain positive attitude and 4) regard relapse as part of the learning process.

role modeling: importance of positive and supportive role modeling, e.g. lower high expectations of oneself, nurture flexibility in various areas of life, take care of one's own physical and psychological needs

rolling with resistance: avoid getting caught up in arguments and criticism - when emotions run high, take a break

Self-care (carer): importance of: remember the adage "a distressed carer is an ineffective carer". As in airline regulations, it is important for carers to remember to put on their own oxygen masks first. Role-model self compassion. Take time out to look after one's own physical and psychological needs.

Self-help: encourage and increase motivation, confidence and self-efficacy. (Carers) access and use of self-help resources, e.g. written resources, support groups, Beat etc. (Sufferers) access support; facilitate use of local services and information on recovery. Self-monitoring: helping the individual to record for themselves their own progress, consequences and future problem solving strategies

Set shifting: a term used to describe the ease in which one can alternate between tasks. People with eating disorders tend to show a certain degree of inflexibility or difficulty in adapting to change, i.e. they demonstrate considerable rigidity in various areas of their life.

S.M.A.R.T. goals: set appropriate goals, according to individual needs and abilities. Set graded tasks to alter unhelpful patterns of behaviour. Goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely.

Sidestep ED talk: keep food, weight and shape talk to a minimum. Use this skill in conjunction with the avoiding the reassurance trap.

Social support (carer): seek out support, whether this is partner, family, extended family, friends, support groups. Don't allow the family to be bullied by the eating disorder. See self-care and accommodation and enabling.

Social support (sufferer): facilitate patient's constructive use of current social networks to help the recovery process.

Summarizing: use summaries to clarify information shared by reflecting on any plans for change - repeat and confirm decisions to make any plans or commitment to make positive changes

trans-theoretical model of change: assesses an individual's readiness to act on a new healthier behavior, and provides strategies, or processes of change to guide the individual through the stages of change to Action and Maintenance

Visualization: visualize what life would be like in a year, 2 or 5 year's time without an eating disorder....then with an eating disorder. What is the individual doing, thinking, feeling? What's going on around them. A comparison can also be made between now and before the eating disorder took a hold.